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"It’s exciting to see the competition grow year after year bringing competitors at the top of their profession together to compete for the Best Installer title"

DENVER, Colo. – Oct. 22, 2014 – Jose Hernandez of Elkridge, Md.-based AC&R Insulation was named “America’s Best Insulation Installer” at the 2014 America’s Best Installer competition on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Denver, Colo. Hernandez received the title and grand prize of $10,000 competing against 26 insulation professionals from across the country.

Celebrating the thirteenth year of competition, Johns Manville and Insulate America have grown Best Installer into a nationally recognized competition by gathering talented insulation professionals to demonstrate how to properly install insulation for more energy-efficient homes.

“It’s an honor to have Jose recognized among some of the best industry professionals,” said Ginny Cameron, AC&R Insulation president. “Being rewarded for work that often goes unrecognized makes it especially exciting for our company and Jose.”

Each competitor was given the task to install insulation products into a wooden mock home structure complete with construction obstacles, including electrical outlets, pipes and a vaulted ceiling. Performance was judged using several real job-site criteria including quality of workmanship and installation, adherence to safety rules, speed/productivity and the amount of scrap material created.

“Jose and all of this year’s competitors were exciting to watch during the competition, and we’re thrilled to recognize their commitment to industry standards and the highest level of professionalism,” said David Beam, President and CEO of Insulate America. “We’re very proud of our partnership with Johns Manville, and the continued growth of our thirteen-year-old competition.”

The competition also recognized second-place winner, and two-time America’s Best Installer title holder, Ray Blackwater of Durango, Colo.-based San Juan Insulation and Drywall, Inc. with a $5,000 cash prize. Javier Gonzalez of Ringwood, Ill.-based Astro Insulation took the third-place $2,500 cash prize competing for the first time. Additional cash prizes were awarded to runners up from the preliminary rounds of competition.

The Best Installer competition was created in 2003 by Denver-based building products manufacturer Johns Manville and Insulate America to highlight the importance of a quality insulation installation. With October being Energy Awareness Month, the competition serves as a timely reminder of the role properly-installed insulation plays in home energy efficiency.

“It’s exciting to see the competition grow year after year bringing competitors at the top of their profession together to compete for the Best Installer title,” said Danelle DeGroodt, marketing manager for the building insulation division for Johns Manville. “Insulation Installers play a significant role in creating comfortable, energy efficient and healthy indoor environments as part of the home construction process, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to work with Insulate America to recognize Jose and all of this year’s competitors.”

About Johns Manville Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales in excess of $2 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs approximately 7,800 people and operates 41 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jmhomeowner.com.

About Insulate America

Insulate America is a national cooperative group of locally-owned, independent insulation contractors specializing in quality insulation installation and other services for residential and commercial construction. The North Carolina-based organization is the largest independent insulation contracting organization in the United States with more than 250 locations in 46 states. Insulate America gives contractors the buying power to offer competitive pricing on all insulation products.